Newswatch
The board on Thursday adopted a $123.2 million budget to cover its operational, maintenance and infrastructure costs for the 1996-97 fiscal year, and approved $64.9 million in construction projects.
The bulk of the 9 percent, or $10.2 million, increase in the operating budget is earmarked for water system infrastructure replacement projects, said Raymond Sato, board manager and chief engineer.
The projected rate hike was based on a 1993 study performed by Ernst & Young, but the department has found that construction costs for projects are costing less.
About $10 million was saved on construction awards last year. "The savings have been considerable and we are able to forgo the scheduled rate increase," Sato said.
The Board of Regents Committee on Finance Thursday deferred plans to hold public hearings on amending its housing policy so the three-bedroom units could be offered to the public.
The university had proposed allowing non-UH employees into the 2-year-old project because of trouble filling the units; only eight have been sold since October 1994.
But Manoa residents earlier this month expressed outrage over that, especially after the university fought for years against them and the state to secure the land at Lowrey Avenue and Kalawao Street exclusively for faculty housing.
By Star-Bulletin staff
Charges were expected to be filed against two men, 32 and 35, and a woman, 28. They were arrested at 1:30 a.m. yesterday at 1214 Neal Ave. and booked for various firearms and narcotics offenses.
Federal agents of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms office here were called to assist in the investigation after police recovered a significant number of firearms during a search of the house, said Maj. Mike Carvalho of the narcotics/vice division.
"The number of weapons is significant," he said. "They're looking at some serious charges here."
Recovered were 10 handguns and two rifles. Two of the handguns were found to have been reported stolen and two others had defaced serial numbers, Carvalho said. Ownership of the others is being investigated.
Besides the firearms, $39,000 in cash, four ounces of crystal methamphetamine, an ounce of cocaine and eight ounces of marijuana were seized.
At least two truckloads of car stereos and electronic equipment were also seized for forfeiture, Carvalho said.
Specialized services and narcotics/vice officers with a search warrant entered the Neal Avenue home at 9 p.m. Wednesday. The raid followed a monthlong investigation.
The 32-year-old man is on probation and also faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A 26-year-old Nanakuli man was also arrested at the home for outstanding warrants totaling about $670.